Errors

Those lovely folks at Eat Your Own Ears have given us a pair of prize tickets to give away for this fantastic triple-bill of a gig, headlined by post-electro band Errors, formed in Glasgow in 2004. The gig’s on March 4 at the Scala in London, and also features Race Horses and So So Modern.

To win, just answer the following question:

What was the name of Errors’ 2008-released debut album?

a)    It Is Something But It’s Not Like Um, I Haven’t A Clue Mate

b)    It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever

Send your answers along with your full name, contact number and address to musosguide <AT> gmail <DOT> com

Good luck!

After the release of a few stellar singles in 2009, 2010 is looking exciting for this lot. Their bouncy percussive basement music, eerie melody and distorted bass are the product of inspiration from such diverse sources as Paul Simon’s Graceland, Ivor Cutler, King Tubby, Bob Hund, Cornelius And Fela Kuti.

To win tickets, just answer the following question:

Which label are Casiokids signed to? Is it:

(a) Galoshi Galoshi; or,
(b) Moshi Moshi?

Send your answers along with your full name, contact number and address to musosguide <AT> gmail <DOT> com

Good luck!

Communion

To celebrate Communion, the wonderful clubnight of the recently-launched label set up by Ben from Mumford & Sons and Kevin from Cherbourg, we’re giving away two tickets to their Christmas show on Sunday December 6 at Notting Hill Arts Club in London. Playing that night are The Agitator, Oddyssey, Treetop Flyers and Lucy Rose.

Now not only that, but we’re giving away LPs from the very wonderful Mumford & Sons and Alessi’s Ark, and an EP from Treetop Flyers, who’ll you get to see.

All you have to do is answer the following simple question:

Ben, who runs Communion, is a member of which band?

(a) Mumford & Sons
(b) Brotherford & Nephews
(c) Uncleford & Second Cousins
(d) Nanna & Daughters

Send your answers to us by Thursday December 3, when the competition will gloriously close. Please address your e-mails to musosguide ATTT (warren)gmail DOT comb (not literally). ‘Communion’ in the subject line please, and your full name and address in the body.

Best of luck!

The Saturdays

To celebrate the launch of the new Tampax Pearl My Weekend My Way campaign, The Saturdays are performing a VIPearl Exclusive Gig at Oceana in Watford on Wednesday 12th August. We’re giving away 5 pairs of tickets to this exclusive gig to see the hottest girl band of the moment.

We’ll also give you a VIPearl card which allows you and a friend free and fast-track entry to 88 nightclubs around the UK, valid until 30th September 2009.

New Tampax Pearl’s unique Pearl Protect System can give you the confidence you need to outsmart Mother Nature and enjoy a great night out your way.

Please visit the official website for more information. And to find out more about Oceana in Watford log on to their homepage.

To win, simply answer the following question:

The Saturdays’ Frankie and Rochelle previously enjoyed chart success as members of which successful pop group?

(a) Scooch
(b) Steps
(c) S Club Juniors?

Send your answer along with full name, telephone number and contact address to musosguide AT googlemail DOT com.

Best of luck!

Prize Terms and Conditions

* The winner and all guests must all be aged 18 or over and must bring along valid photo ID to prove this. You will not be admitted without ID.
* An e-ticket will be emailed to the competition winner which must be printed off and taken to the gig on 12th August. The e-ticket will then be swapped for proper tickets
* Tickets cannot be exchanged for cash and should not be sold to others in exchange for cash or commercial gain
* Events, times and performances are subject to change
* Tickets from unauthorised sources are not valid and admission with these tickets will not be permitted
* The venue and organisers are not liable for any ticket which is lost or stolen
* Ticket holders will be ejected from the venue if they pose a threat to the health and safety of others; and/or affect the enjoyment of the event by others; and/or the running of the event.  Examples include but are not limited to being (or appearing to be): incapable or intoxicated, under age, abusive, threatening, behaving anti-socially, standing on seats and tables, carrying illegal weapons and substances, declining to be searched or in breach of the ticket terms and conditions
* No food and drink is to be brought into the venue
* CCTV and film cameras will be present at the venue.  By being a ticket holder you consent to filming and sound recording which may include you as a member of the audience and its use in commercial distribution without payment or copyright
* The use of unauthorised cameras, video or sound recording equipment is prohibited and such items may be confiscated
* Loud music can damage hearing
* Smoking is prohibited except on the dedicated smoking terrace.
* Neither the promoters, nor the venue, can be held responsible for any property lost when within the venue
* Competition is open to UK Residents only over 18 years of age
* All entries must be received by 5pm on Sunday 9th August (BST).  The winners will be selected by the publication and will each win a pair of tickets to the VIPearl Exclusive Gig with The Saturdays on August 12, 2009 at the Oceana nightclub in Watford.
* Winners will be notified in writing or by email by August 10, 2009
* No purchase necessary, visit musosguide.com for entry
* The promoter reserves the right to re-draw the prize if the winner cannot be contacted within a reasonable period of time
* Prizes are as stated.  No cash alternative will be offered.
* The promoter has the right to substitute the prize for a similar item of equal or higher value if the stated prize becomes unavailable.
* Multiple entries are not allowed, only your first entry will be accepted.  Only one prize per household
* PROMOTER: DSA PR, 60 Ironmonger Row, London EC1V 3QR’
* For full t&c’s for the VIPearl cards please visit www.myspace.com/myweekendmyway

Baaba Maal

Legendary Senegalese master musician Baaba Maal releases his new album Television on June 1.

With its subtle blending of electronic dance elements with the timeless tradition of West African musical traditions, the record is a groundbreaking successor to 2001’s Missing You. Television was made in London and Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Baaba Maal worked on its eight songs with various musicians, but most specifically in a collaboration throughout the recording with singer Sabina Sciubba and keyboardist Didi Gutman, both members of New York’s Brazilian Girls, who blend electronic dance music with a diversity of eclectic styles.

To celebrate the release, we’ve got Baaba’s entire back catalogue to give away:

• Live at the Royal Festival Hall – DVD
• Nomad Soul
• Missing You Mii Yeenii
• On the Road
• Djam Leelii
• Palm World Voices – DVD
• Television

To be in with a chance of winning this special prize, all you need to do is answer the following question:

Where does Baaba Maal come from?

1. Mauritania
2. Senegal
3. The Gambia

Send your answers along with your name, full address and contact number to musosguideATgooglemailDOTcom

Best of luck!

The Holloways

We are giving away four pairs of tickets to a very special and entirely one-off event set up by Gaymers Grassroots gigs. Have a read about it here, why don’t you.

The Holloways are returning to their roots and playing an extremely intimate London venue as part of the Gaymers (mmm… cider) Camden Crawl this coming Friday April 24, 2009, and we’ve got four pairs of tickets to give away!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A DAYTIME GIG. Yes, did you see that? During the day. The day time.

If you want in, just tell us where in the world Holloway is and keep your fingers crossed between now and Thursday, when you’ll find it if you’ve won…

Is Holloway in:-

(a) London

OR

(b) Nashville, TN?

Send your answers along with your name and contact number to the MUSOSGUIDE @@@@@@AT@@@@@@ googlyyyyyeeeemail DOT comb

Good luck!

Flo Rida - Mail On Sunday

Flo Rida releases his new album Routes Of Overcoming The Struggle (R.O.O.T.S) on Monday, a collection of thirteen tracks which see Flo Rida working with artists including Nelly Furtado, Ne-yo and Wyclef Jean.

Since the mammoth success of ‘Low’, the Grammy-nominated rapper has been keeping busy – finishing writing and recording his second album Routes Of Overcoming The Struggle (the follow-up to last years UK silver-certified Mail On Sunday), guesting on tracks with T-Pain and Sean Paul, and contributing to the massive collaborative remix of Rick Ross Speedin, which also featured an alumni of hip-hop heavyweights including Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and Lil Wayne.

Not that the road to success has been an easy one for Flo. He got his first break at 18 when touring with as the hype man for Fresh Kid Ice of 2 Live Crew, and his MC skills caught the attention of DeVante Swing – formerly of the famed R&B group Jodeci. Swing flew the young rapper out to LA, where Flo ended up staying for three years, struggling to make his mark. “I was literally on the streets, at times promoting myself by myself”, he says. In early 2006, hesitant to leave L.A. until he had successfully landed a record deal, he returned to Miami.

Continuing his grind, working hard to self promote and with the help of CEO of Poe Entertainments E-Class, he signed first to Poe Entertainment and then to Atlantic Records. “That was the greatest moment of my life, Flo Rida recalls. I had been working so hard for so long. I had jobs in construction, I worked in warehouses, and Im talking about some of the bummiest jobs. But those were all the sacrifices I made by putting my money towards my music, and it finally paid off.”

To get yourself ready for the new album, we’ve got three signed copies of Flo’s first album Mail On Sunday to give away.

All you need to do is answer the following question:

Where is Flo Rida from?

(a) California

(b) Florida

(c) New York

Send your answers along with your name, address and contact number to musosguide AAAATTTTTTTTTT googlemalemail DOOOOOOTTTTT com.

Best of luck!

Bishop Allen - Grr...

We’ve got a copy of Bishop Allen’s Grr… and a pair of tickets to see them at any of their upcoming May dates to give away to one very lucky winner.

Said album reminds us of a load of things we love: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Voxtrot, Sebadoh, hell even a bit of Pavement chucked in for extra measure. All with added universality. Yes, even more of that.

All you have to do is tell us which date you’d like to win your pair of tickets for.

Take your pick from:

May 6 Manchester @ Cafe Saki
May 7 London @ Bardens Boudoir
May 8 Cardiff @ Clwb
May 9 Reading @ Oakford
May 10 Brixton @ The Windmill

Now once you’ve done that, drop us a line via the following hovel: musosguide AT googlemail <Dottttt> COMB

Don’t forget to include your name, full postal address and even a little greeting if you like to brighten up our day.

Best of luck!

A selection of Jem-themed freebies

Remember Jem? All tropical and piña colada-evoking, she sold over a million copies of debut album Finally Woken not all that long ago.

Well she’s back now, with a brand new album – the lead track ‘It’s Amazing’ is one you may have heard if you went out and saw the Sex And The City film. The new album is produced by Jeff Bass, man behind Eminem and 50 Cent amongst others – with a little help from Greg Kurstin (The Bird and The Bee, Kylie Minogue).

We’ve got ten goody bags to giveaway to ten lucky winners, containing containing the bag itself, playing cards and a signed copy of the new album Down To Earth. All you have to do is answer this very simple question:

Which country does Jem originate from?

• (a) Wales
• (b) F.Y.R.O.M
• (c) Luxembourg
• (d) Greenland

Simply e-mail us your answer alongside your full name and postal address for a chance to win. And send those to the usual e-mail address, which is: musosguide @ GOOOOOOOOOOGLE MAYLE dot COM

Good luck!

secretsundaze & friends

We have two pairs of tickets to give away to secretsundaze & friends at London’s Scala on February 21.

Is it more information you’re after? Try this:

Joining James and Giles in Room 1 and setting the pace for the night is Monza. Originally hailing from Frankfurt, renowned for their now legendary parties at Privilege and Space in Ibiza and previous collaborations with secretsundaze, Monza’s reputation speaks for itself. Headlining proceedings are Monza and secretsundaze favourite, Pedro, who continues to impress through his residency at DC10 and his intricate productions on labels such as Cadenza and his own label a:rpia:r.

Next up making his secretsundaze debut is Mathias Kaden. His productions for Vakant and Freunde am Tanzen are both ambitious and refreshing with a distinct percussive element.

Phonica take over the bar where DJ tag team Skull Juice will be playing all manner of electronic disco finery alongside Phonica residents Simon Rigg and The Vangelis.

Even more information is available here, so simply answer this question to win:

Where is the Scala? Is it:

(a) Shrewsbury

(b) Stockton-on-Tees

(c) London

(d) Penzance

Answers in an e-mail, as ever, to m u s o s g u i d e <AT> g o o g l e m a i l <DOT> c o m – along with a contact telephone number and your full name and address.

Best of luck!